Portable container



Aug.21,1945. H, J HANSQN 2,383,058

PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed March 10, 1944 Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,383,058 ronrsnnacon'ramaa Harley J. Hanson,Milwaukee, Wis, Application March 10, 1944, Serial No. 525,957- 1 Claim.(01. 206 -16) This invention relates to improvements in portablecontainers, and more particularly to a unitary carry-all equipped withmovable carrying handles having trays and covers so associated therewiththat when the handles are manipulated, the covers and trays areautomatically moved to expose and provide ready access .to the interiorof the container.

' A general object of the invention is to provide a hamper-likecontainer adaptedfito carry or house various classes of paraphernalia orgoods equipped with attached, movable carrying handles which may also beconveniently manipulated to open the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container,including covers and,

trays, in which all of the parts are operatively attached to precludetheir dropping oi! or becoming lost or mislaid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable containerwhich can be made of any available material and which can be shaped anddecorated in a manner to enhance its appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable containerwhich can be conveniently manipulated with one hand to an open, expandedposition, and which can be closed in the same simple manner with areverse movement.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a portable containerwhich is of very simple construction, which is tractive in appearance,and-which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the aboveand other obiects'in view the.

strong and durable, which is compact and unitary, which is neat andatcomplementary, open top box-like trays s and 6'. As is shown in Fig. 3the upper margin of the main section 5 is formed by rails l. V Adjacentthe rails are secured longitudinal keeper strips 8 forming on the innerupper surfaces of the sides of the main section 5 shoulders 9 for thepurpose hereinafter to be described.

' or move longitudinally therealong. The adjaduced flanges III whichextend belowthe main cent end walls of said trays have dependingresection keeperstrips 8. In the ends of said flanges in are outwardlyprojecting pins or nails which engage the shoulders 9 formed on theunder surfaces of the keeper strips 8 and, while permitting longitudinalmovement of the trays relative to the main section 5, prevent upwarddisplacement of said trays.

Each of -'a pair of handle units is indicated.

generally by the numeral I2. Inasmuch as the handle units are identicaland are merely attached to the container in oppositely extendingdirections, only one of the same will be described in detail. A handleunit comprises-a pair of laterally spaced eccentrically curved side armsi3 joined at their upper ends by a transverse bar H, The upper verticalportions of a pair of side arms extend above the top portion of a trayadiacent the inner end of the tray and are pivotally secured to theOpposite side walls of a tray by screws or studs it, there being washersIt interposed between .theside arms and-,the tray surfaces. The lowerends of the side arms I! are curved toward an outer end of the containerand engage outer side wall portions of the main section 5, beingpivotally secured thereto by studs I! with washers ll being interposedbetween the attached portions of the side arms and the outer surfaceportions of the side walls of the main Fig. 3 is an enlarged transversesectional view of the closed container taken on line '3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that thebottom or main section of the container is an open top box-like memberindicated by the numeral 5. The open upper end of said main section 5,is adapted to be normally closed by a pair of endwise abutting,

section I. 1

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that one handle unit is attachedto a tray I and to one outer end portion of the main section I, whilethe other handle unit I! is attached to the other tray I and to theopposite end portion oi the main section 5, it being noted that when thecontainer is in its closed carrying condition the transverse bars ll ofthe pair of handle units are in abutment as are the vertical extents ofthe side arms, while the lower portions of a pair of adjacent side armsdiverge downwardly away from each other.

The open upper ends of the trays 0 and I are adapted to be closed byshittsbl'e fiat covers I! and the longitudinal be rooted 2 and it. Whenthe container is in its closed arrying condition each cover peripheralportion of its tray, in a flat horizontal condition. Each cover is,iurthermore, pivotally secured at its inner side edges to the side armsof the handle unit thereadiacent, said pivotal connections beingindicated by the numeral 20.

When the portable container is in the closed condition shown in Fig. 1,the endwise abutting slidable trays B and 6' seat on and completelycover the main section 5. Likewise the covers I! and I9 seat on andtightly cover the trays 8 and 6'. when the container is to be carriedthe user merely grasps with one hand the abutting and complementary barsll of the two handle units and the engagement of said bars prevents thetwo handle units from spreading relative to one another, so that theclosed condition of the entire container is assured so long as it isbeing carried and so long as the complementary handle units are notpivoted or moved outwardly longitudinally relative to each other. Toopen the improved portable container to simultaneously expose theinterior of either or both of the trays and the main section 5, it isonly necessary to swing either or both of the handle units from theposition of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2'. When both the handleunits are so operated the pivotal movement oi the same causes the trays6 and 8' to slide away from one another longitudinally on the top railsI of the main section 5, thereby uncovering the maior'portion oi' themain section. Longitudinal movement of the trays 6 and 6' is limited andupward displacement of the same is prevented by the studs II whichshiftably engage the under shoulders or the keeper strips I.Simultaneously with the outward swinging oi the operation of the trays,the tray covers. and It, which are pivotally attached' to the side armsoithe handle units, will from the flat covering positions of Fig. l tolongitudinally tions of Fig. 2, exposing the trays.

The improved portable container may be designed and adapted forunlimited usages. container illustrated is primarily, although notnecessarily, adapted for infants paraphemalia. It will tion oi theinterior or the titted with an apertured sheli 2i which wllihold nursingbottles or other similar items. Thebal- .ance of the interior of themain section may be used ior any other necessary articles of aphandleunits carrying be noted from Fig. 2 that a pormain section I may beseats on the upper I asaaoss parel and equipment, as may the trays 8 and8' which could also readily be used for pins, toys. powder, smallerarticles of apparel, etc. It is also obvious that the improved portablecontainer could be arranged or used as a convenient form of hamper, andit may likewise be adapted for use as a tool kit or as a fishing tackleand equipment box. The recited possible usages are merely suggestive andthe possibilities are unlimited.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the improvedportable container is arranged for easy carrying and transportation andwhen the companion handle units are in abutment the main section of thecontainer and the trays are maintained in closed condition. A simplemanipulation of the handles is eflective to open up the entirecontainer, providing immediate access not only to the interior of themain section but to the trays which are provided with swingable covers.All parts of the container are attached together so that there is nodanger or losing or mislaying any of the component units. The containeris, furthermore, of simple construction, may be manufactured at arelatively small expense, and is well adapted for the purposes setforth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

A container, comprising a main section having an open upper end, a pairof smaller, endwise adjacent trays longitudinally movably mounted on thetop of the main section in covering relation thereto, means slidablyconnecting the trays with the main section but preventing upwarddisplacement of said trays, a cover movably mounted on and closing eachtrail, and a pair of complementary carrying and operating handles, eachhaving an end portion pivotally mounted on an opposite outer end portionof the main section and converging at their other end portions beyondthe trays, intermediate portions of each handle being pivotally attacheddirectly to the adjacent tray shifted, raited and tilted osi- The at apoint medially of the ends and adjacent the lower edge thereof and to aninner end of its cover, the points "or pivotal attachment of a handlewith the main section, a tray and a cover being successivelylongitudinally inwardly removed from one another, the convergingportions of the handles being swingable away from each other to slidethe trays longitudinally outwardlyoi the main section away from eachother and to simultaneously shift and tilt the covers relative to thetrays with the covers pivotally moving directly on their respectivehandles.

' HARLEY J. HANSON.

